RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is looking to strengthen its cooperation with Saudi Arabia by increasing the technical involvement of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) in Hajj operations, including a proposal to deploy additional personnel to improve coordination with Saudi security forces.

The plan was outlined by Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak following a meeting with Deputy Police Chief Commissioner General Dedi Prasetyo at the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

“We agreed to request more technical involvement from the National Police in Saudi Arabia to engage directly with Saudi police on Hajj management and governance,” Dahnil said, as quoted by Antara.

He explained that the government is intensifying efforts to prevent illegal Hajj practices through cross-agency coordination, particularly via the Hajj Task Force, which includes Polri and the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections. The task force is tasked with curbing violations such as unauthorized pilgrimages and fraud.

One of the key issues discussed in Thursday meeting was Polri’s role in assisting with criminal cases involving Indonesian citizens in Saudi Arabia. Dahnil cited a recent example in which Saudi police arrested three Indonesians suspected of producing and distributing fake Hajj documents.

“They committed the crime and were arrested by Saudi police. This requires support and monitoring from our police,” he noted.

Director General of Hajj and Umrah Control, Harun Arrasyid, added that two of the suspects were believed to be members of the support staff for Indonesian Hajj officers.

The ministry is investigating the case, which will serve as an evaluation to tighten recruitment processes and prevent future abuses. “These individuals were local residents in Saudi Arabia. The case is under closed investigation, and we need to trace and strengthen recruitment procedures,” Harun said.

The initiative reflects Indonesia’s broader commitment to ensuring the integrity and safety of its Hajj operations, while reinforcing cooperation with Saudi authorities to protect pilgrims and uphold lawful practices during one of the world’s largest religious gatherings. ***